Jesus is welcomed by the crowd. Jairus, a synagogue ruler, urgently asks him to come because his only daughter (about twelve) is near death; the crowd presses in as they go.
vv. 43–48
A woman bleeding for twelve years approaches from behind and touched Jesus’ clothing; the bleeding stops immediately. Jesus asks who touched him; after denial and clarification about the crowd, the woman explains what happened. Jesus addresses her and dismisses her in peace.
vv. 49–50
A messenger reports Jairus’s daughter has died. Jesus responds with reassurance and tells Jairus to continue.
vv. 51–56
At the house, Jesus limits witnesses, counters the mourners’ scorn, takes the girl’s hand, speaks, and she rises and is given food. The parents are astonished, and Jesus instructs them not to spread the report.
Back among waiting crowds, Luke interweaves two pleas for help, highlighting delays, public testimony, and a climactic restoration at home.
Plain Meaning
Read it in context
vv. 40–42
Jesus is welcomed by the crowd. Jairus, a synagogue ruler, urgently asks him to come because his only daughter (about twelve) is near death; the crowd presses in as they go.
vv. 43–48
A woman bleeding for twelve years approaches from behind and touched Jesus’ clothing; the bleeding stops immediately. Jesus asks who touched him; after denial and clarification about the crowd, the woman explains what happened. Jesus addresses her and dismisses her in peace.
vv. 49–50
A messenger reports Jairus’s daughter has died. Jesus responds with reassurance and tells Jairus to continue.
vv. 51–56
At the house, Jesus limits witnesses, counters the mourners’ scorn, takes the girl’s hand, speaks, and she rises and is given food. The parents are astonished, and Jesus instructs them not to spread the report.
Literary Context
This episode follows Jesus’ return from the Gerasene region and resumes the Galilean crowd setting. Luke intercalates two stories: Jairus’s request frames the narrative while the woman’s healing interrupts it, heightening tension as the delay is followed by news of the child’s death. The scene also continues Luke’s motif of public crowds and private household moments, with dialogue and reactions driving the pace.
Historical Context
A synagogue ruler was a prominent local leader involved in synagogue oversight and community order. Chronic bleeding could bring social exclusion and ongoing economic loss from medical attempts. Dense crowds around a well-known teacher could restrict movement, and first-century mourning commonly involved neighbors gathering with loud lament.
Theological Significance
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